Soft, smooth, healthy skin is beautiful skin. Unfortunately, time, heredity, gravity, sun exposure and smoking all do their part to create lines and wrinkles, especially around our eyes and mouth. Scarring from accidents, medical procedures, stretch marks and acne can leave us feeling self-conscious.
Now you can have these problem areas treated in less than an hour, with minimal down time, by a laser certified RN or MD. In just about the time it takes for your lunch hour, Family Doctors of Vicksburg Laser Skin Care can help you begin the process of restoring you skin’s health. With the Palomar 1540 Fractional, treatments are affordable - and the results are dramatic.
In the past, ablative skin resurfacing treatments for removing these problem areeas had many drawbacks - including red, raw, unsightly skin that required weeks of down time and a high risk of infection.
What makes fractional non-ablative skin resurfacing different?
Ablative Skin Resurfacing involves removal of some of the epidermis and some of the dermis. This results in tissue that is raw and weepy, and must be bandaged for 48-72 hours to prevent infection and crusting.
Fractional non-ablative skin resurfacing is the only method that offers both excellent results and no downtime. The Palomar Lux 1540 Fractional resurfacing handpiece operates using the principle of “fractional photothermolysis”. The Palomar Lux 1540 delivers light in an array of narrow, focused micro-beams to create column of tissue coagulation deep within the skin. This creates columns of coagulation while leaving the surrounding tissue unaffected and intact. The body’s natural healing process then creates new, healthy tissue quickly and efficiently. The fractional, non-ablative approach stimulates quick healing, while leaving your skin’s surface intact, with no lasting redness.
How does it work?
Collagen and elastin (proteins) are the key structural components of the lower layer of skin, called the dermis. Collagen provides structure and firmness to the skin while elastin provides flexibility. Collagen and elastin proteins are surrounded by hyaluronic acid, which attracts and bind water, giving skin its fullness. As aging occurs, these proteins change shape, with a resulting loss of collagen and less firmness in the skin. Resurfacing the skin stimulates regeneration of these proteins.
Fractional skin resurfacing creates multiple, microscopic thermal columns within the skin. These micro-beams cause a change in the collagen and elastin below the skin’s surface, which gradually improves the appearance of your aging, scarred, or sun-damaged skin. It also results in a healing process with minimal downtime.
The Palomar Lux 1540 Fractional handpiece penetrates to a very precise, controlled depth. This consistency can’t be matched by a system that uses a scanning approach. This leads to much less patient discomfort, because the heat is distributed more evenly. The Lux 1540 also protects the skin by constantly cooling the skin’s surface. Together, these features make this procedure safe and predictable, while reducing discomfort and the risk of scarring and pigmentation problems.
What areas can be treated?
Fractional, non-ablative skin resurfacing can be applied to any area of the body, including the face, arms, chest, legs and hands.
What skin conditions can be treated?
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Deep wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, forehead and cheeks -
Acne scarring on the face, chest or back
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Stretch marks
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Most types of scarring
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Melasma (mask of pregnancy)
What is the treatment like?
First, the area to be treated is cleaned with a gentle cleanser. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied. Protective goggles will be placed over your eyes. The Lux 1540 fractional handpiece is placed on targeted areas of your skin in a slightly overlapping pattern. You may feel a stinging sensation with each pulse. Depending on the area to be treated, this will take from 10-45 minutes. Your skin is rinsed with cool water and a cold roller is applied for 5 minutes. This will help minimize swelling, redness and discomfort. A hydrating cream may be applied.
What should I expect after treatment?
You may experience redness, swelling (especially around the eyes) or tightness in the treated area. This usually fades within a few hours, but may last up to 3 days. Generally, you can return to work or other activities without any recovery time. Because the light pulses are confined to narrow columns in the skin, much of the skin is left unaffected and there is a rapid healing process. Most people notice positive changes in skin tone and texture within a few days. Collagen replacement will continue for 6-12 months after treatment.
How many treatments will I need?
This depends on the treatment area, the extent of damage and your body’s natural healing process. Most conditions seem to respond after 3-6 treatments spaced about 14-28 days apart. Improvements in the appearance of your skin will continue 6 to 12 months or more after the last treatment.
